System and method for representing the information technology infrastructure of an organization

ABSTRACT

A computer program for representing the information technology infrastructure of an organization includes an interactive display module and an output module. The interactive display module can generate a hierarchical list of information technology elements and organizational elements in the information technology infrastructure of the organization and can generate an interactive user interface that presents the hierarchical list. The output module can generate a hierarchical graph of the information technology infrastructure of the organization. The hierarchical list and the hierarchical graph each represent the information technology infrastructure of the organization.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/342,481 entitled “System and Method for Representing theInformation Technology Infrastructure of an Organization” filed Jun. 29,1999.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to information technology, and moreparticularly to a system and method for representing the informationtechnology infrastructure of an organization.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Organizations typically have a large number and variety ofinformation technology elements, such as software applications,subsystems, and databases, which together make up the informationtechnology system of the organization. Moreover, many of theseinformation technology elements are used by various elements in theorganization, such as sales, accounting, and engineering departments.

[0004] Unfortunately, the relationships between the various informationtechnology elements and their uses by different organizational elements,which together constitute the information technology infrastructure ofthe organization, are normally hidden from decision-makers. A timeconsuming review of source code may be undertaken to determine therelationships between the information technology elements and theirusage in each organizational element. This review may reveal that theinformation technology infrastructure is quite complex and difficult tocharacterize or represent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention substantially reduces or eliminates atleast some of the disadvantages and problems associated withrepresenting the information technology infrastructure of anorganization. To accomplish this, the present invention providesrepresentations of the information technology infrastructure of anorganization in interactive and graphical formats that are readilydiscernible and technically useful.

[0006] In one embodiment of the present invention, a computer programembodied in a computer readable media for representing the informationtechnology infrastructure of an organization includes an interactivedisplay module and an output module. The interactive display module isoperable to generate a hierarchical list of information technologyelements and organizational elements in the information technologyinfrastructure of an organization and to generate an interactive userinterface that presents the hierarchical list. The output module isoperable to generate a hierarchical graph of the information technologyinfrastructure of the organization. The hierarchical list and thehierarchical graph each represent the information technologyinfrastructure of the organization.

[0007] In another embodiment, a method performed on a computer forrepresenting the information technology infrastructure of anorganization includes storing data representing information technologyelements of an organization, organizational elements of theorganization, and relationships between the information technologyelements and the organizational elements. The method also includesgenerating a hierarchical list of the information technology elementsand the organizational elements for presentation by an interactive userinterface, wherein the hierarchical list represents the informationtechnology infrastructure of the organization. The method furtherincludes displaying the interactive user interface that presents thehierarchical list on a display device.

[0008] The present invention has several important technical featuresand advantages. First, by generating the interactive user interface thatpresents the hierarchical list of the information technology elementsand the organizational elements of the organization, the relationshipsbetween the information technology elements and the organizationalelements in the information technology infrastructure are readilydiscernible and modifiable. Modifications can include rearranging thehierarchical order of the information technology elements in thehierarchical list, moving the information technology elements betweendifferent organizational elements in the hierarchical list, addinginformation technology elements to the hierarchical list, and deletinginformation technology elements from the hierarchical list. Second, bygenerating a hierarchical graph of the information technologyinfrastructure, the information technology infrastructure of theorganization is placed in a format that is readily presentable to andusable by others.

[0009] In a particular embodiment, the hierarchical graph will include alabel for each occurrence of an information technology element thatoccurs more than once in the hierarchical graph. Each label will locateeach occurrence of the information technology element in thehierarchical graph. The hierarchical graph will also includecross-references at each occurrence of the information technologyelement to the other occurrences of the information technology elementin the hierarchical graph. This cross-referencing allows readyidentification of high dependency sectors in the information technologyinfrastructure of the organization, and identifying high dependencysectors assists in determining which sectors to focus on duringcompliance testing, upgrades and enhancements, and general flow testing.

[0010] Other technical advantages will be readily apparent to oneskilled in the art from the following figures, description, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] For a more complete understanding of the present invention, andfor further features and advantages, reference is now made to thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, where like reference numerals represent like parts, in which:

[0012]FIG. 1 provides an overview of a system for representing theinformation technology infrastructure of an organization;

[0013]FIG. 2 provides an example of a data file for use in the system;

[0014]FIG. 3A illustrates an interactive user interface that presents ahierarchical list of the information technology infrastructure;

[0015]FIG. 3B illustrates an entry screen for adding an informationtechnology element or an organizational element to the interactive userinterface;

[0016]FIG. 4 illustrates a hierarchical graph of the informationtechnology infrastructure of the organization; and

[0017]FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of a method for representing theinformation technology infrastructure of an organization.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018]FIG. 1 provides an overview of a system 10 for representing theinformation technology infrastructure of an organization. System 10includes a display device 20, a processing device 22, and an outputdevice 50. Processing device 22 generates a hierarchical list 62 and ahierarchical graph 54, each of which represents the informationtechnology infrastructure of the organization, and can be a personalcomputer (PC), a workstation, a mainframe, an integrated circuit (IC),or any other device that can electronically process data. Display device20 displays hierarchical list 62 and/or hierarchical graph 54 and can bea cathode ray tube (CRT) display, a liquid crystal display (LCD), aflat-panel display (FPD), or any other device that can display anelectronic image. Output device 50 generates a hard copy output 52 thatpresents hierarchical graph 54 and can be a laser printer, an ink jetprinter, a fax machine, a plotter, or any other type of device that cangenerate a hard copy output of an electronic image.

[0019] To generate hierarchical list 62 and hierarchical graph 54,processing device 22 includes a processor 24 and a memory 26. Memory 26stores representations of the information technology elements of theorganization, the organizational elements of the organization, and therelationships between the information technology elements and theorganizational elements. The information technology elements, theorganizational elements, and the relationships between them form theinformation technology infrastructure of the organization. Memory 26 canbe random access memory (RAM), a hard drive, a diskette, a CD-ROM,another type of magnetic or optical storage device, or any othervolatile or non-volatile memory.

[0020] Memory 26 includes a computer program 42 and a database 46, whichprocessor 24 uses in generating hierarchical list 62 and hierarchicalgraph 54. Computer program 42, executable by processor 24, includes adata collection module 32, a data importation module 34, a data entrymodule 36, an interactive display module 38, and an output module 40.Database 46 includes data files 48, each of which contains datarepresenting the information technology elements, the organizationalelements, and the relationships between them for an informationtechnology infrastructure. Database 46 can have any type, format, orarrangement of information, as described above with respect to memory26. Also, data files 48 may be one or more flat files, relational files,or other suitable arrangement of information.

[0021] In operation, data collection module 32, data importation module34, and/or data entry module 36 allow computer program 42 to obtain datathat represents the information technology elements, the organizationalelements, and the relationships between them. Once obtained, computerprogram 42 can store the data in database 46 as one of data files 48.Data collection module 32 performs auto-discovery of the informationtechnology system of the organization to locate and identify theinformation technology elements. Data collection module 32 can performthis function autonomously and automatically by searching theinformation technology system for information technology elements,polling the information technology elements, and gathering informationabout the information technology elements. Data collection module 32 canuse any network management protocol to perform this function, such as,for example, simple network management protocol (SNMP), remotemonitoring (RMON) protocol, or common management information protocol(CMIP). Data importation module 34, on the other hand, imports data froma pre-existing database or data file into computer program 42. Dataimportation module 34 may perform this function by accessing apreformatted database or data file or by automatically parsing anunformatted database and placing the data into the proper format. Dataentry module 36 accepts data directly entered by a user of computerprogram 42.

[0022] After computer program 42 acquires and stores the representationsof the information technology elements, the organizational elements, andthe relationships between them for the particular information technologyinfrastructure, interactive display module 38 generates hierarchicallist 62 of the information technology elements and organizationalelements of the organization for presentation by an interactive userinterface 60 on display device 20. Interactive user interface 60 can bea graphical user interface (GUI), a command-driven user interface, atextual character-based user interface, or any other type of userinterface that can present data to a user and allow the user tomanipulate the data. Interactive user interface 60 allows a user ofcomputer program 42 to modify the relationships between the informationtechnology elements and the organizational elements, as well as theelements themselves.

[0023] Once interactive display module 38 finishes performing themodifications to hierarchical list 62 and saves any modifications of thedata used to form hierarchical list 62 to one of data files 48, outputmodule 40 can generate hierarchical graph 54 of the informationtechnology infrastructure of the organization in memory location 44.After this, output module 40 can display hierarchical graph 54 ondisplay device 20 and/or cooperate with output device 50 to generatehard copy output 52 that presents hierarchical graph 54.

[0024] Note, although computer program 42 is shown as having severalmodules, the modules may be combined or further subdivided in numerousmanners while still providing the same functionality in system 10. Also,data files 48 may be one or more flat files, relational files, or othersuitable arrangement of information.

[0025] As illustrated in FIG. 1, system 10 has several features andadvantages. Because interactive user interface 60 can presenthierarchical list 62 of the information technology elements and theorganizational elements of the organization, system 10 allows readydiscernment and modification of the relationships between theinformation technology elements and the organizational elements in theinformation technology infrastructure. Moreover, interactive userinterface 60 allows insertion of information technology elements intoand deletion of information technology elements from hierarchical list62. In addition, because display device 20 can display and/or hard copyoutput 52 can present hierarchical graph 54 of the informationtechnology infrastructure of the organization, system 10 provides a viewof the information technology infrastructure of the organization that isreadily discernible and usable by others.

[0026]FIG. 2 provides an example of one of data files 48 stored indatabase 46 for use in system 10. As illustrated, data file 48 is a textfile in which the fields in each record are tab delimited. Also, datafile 48 uses five levels to represent the information technologyinfrastructure of the organization—organization, organization function,application, subsystem, and database. The first two levels correspond toorganizational elements, and the last three levels correspond toinformation technology elements. Thus, each level corresponds to adifferent element type.

[0027] The records in data file 48 are collated into four groups: anorganization group 80, a properties group 85, an element group 90, and adependency group 95. Organization group 80 includes a record thatcontains identification information about the organization. Propertiesgroup 85 includes records that specify labels for the differentproperties associated with each element type—organization, organizationfunction, application, subsystem, and database. For example, if thenumber of users needs to be associated with each application, the label“NUMBER OF USERS” would be inserted in properties group 85 in the recordfor applications (“APPLICATION FIELDS”). Note, the first fields of therecords, except for the last record, in properties group 85 define thelevels used to represent the information technology infrastructure.Thus, for data file 48, there are five levels, but in other embodiments,more or fewer levels could be used to represent the informationtechnology infrastructure. Further note, the records in properties group85 could be in any order. Element group 90 includes records that specifythe organizational elements, the information technology elements, andthe relationships between them, as well as any properties of eachinformation technology element and organizational element. The order ofthe records in element group 90 specifies the relationships between theorganizational elements and the information technology elements, and thelabels in properties group 85 define the properties that can bespecified for each element type. Finally, dependency group 95 includesrecords that specify dependencies between information technologyelements and between information technology elements and organizationalelements.

[0028] In organization group 80, an organization field 81 of the recordincludes the title for the data, which is usually the name of theorganization. Organization information fields 82 of the record oforganization group 80 include additional information about theorganization. As illustrated, a number and a name are in organizationinformation fields 82, the context of which depends on the labels inproperties group 85.

[0029] Properties group 85 includes records that specify labels for thedifferent properties associated with each type of information technologyelement and organizational element—organization, organization function,application, subsystem, and database. Note, each element typecorresponds to a level used to represent the information technologyinfrastructure. An element field 86 of each record in properties group85 associates the labels with a type of information technology elementor organizational element, except for the last (“UNIVERSAL FIELDS”),which can be used for all element types. For example, “ORGANIZATIONFIELDS” corresponds to the element type “organization,” described inorganization group 80. Label fields 87 specify the labels for theproperties associated with each element type in element field 86. Labelfields 87 can allow any number of labels with which to denote theproperties for the information technology elements and organizationalelements. Continuing with the above example, the labels for the firsttwo fields of organization information fields 82 in organization group80 are “YEAR” and “CEO.” The next four records in properties group 85associate labels with organizational elements and information technologyelements in element group 90. For example, the labels associated withthe element type “application” are “NUMBER OF USERS” and “PLATFORM.” Thelast record in properties group 85 contains labels for use with anyelement type. Note, the records in properties group 85 could be in anyorder.

[0030] Element group 90 includes records that specify the informationtechnology elements, the organizational elements, the relationshipsbetween the elements, and the properties of the elements. An elementtype field 91 in each record of element group 90 contains an elementtype—organization function, application, subsystem and database. Note,as illustrated, the element types in element type field 91 correspondwith the entries in element field 86 for the second through fifthrecords of properties group 85. After specifying an element type inelement type field 91, an element is given an element name in a namefield 92. For example, the first organization function is named“ACCOUNTING.” Following the name for the element type are the propertiesin properties fields 93, corresponding to the labels in label fields 87for that element type. For example, the element type “ORGANIZATIONFUNCTION” in element group 90 corresponds with “ORGANIZATION FUNCTIONFIELDS” in properties group 85, and thus, the property specified inproperties fields 93 for an organization function is the number ofemployees in that organization function, forty-two for the organizationfunction “ACCOUNTING.” In a particular embodiment, each field inproperties fields 93 is unique to one of the labels in label fields 87,except for the labels for “ORGANIZATION FIELDS,” used in organizationgroup 80.

[0031] Following the specification of an organization function in thefirst record of element group 90 are the information technology elementsin the organization function. For example, the organization function“ACCOUNTING” may have an application that it uses to compute payroll, asillustrated by the second record in element group 90. Thus, theinformation technology elements in an organization function can bebroken down from the more general to the more specific, which would bethe database. Following the records for the information technologyelements associated with the first organization function is the recordfor the second organization function. The process continues for thatorganization function.

[0032] Dependency group 95 includes records that specify dependenciesbetween certain information technology elements and between certaininformation technology elements and organizational elements. Byspecifying dependencies between certain elements, an element that isdependent on another element will always have the other elementconnected to it in hierarchical list 62 and hierarchical graph 54, nomatter where or how many times the dependent element occurs.

[0033] Dependency group 95 provides two ways to associate elements. Thefirst way is by using the keyword “DEPENDENCY PAIR” in a dependency typefield 96. By specifying this keyword, the name given to the higher levelelement, found in name field 92 of element group 90, will be the firstentry in dependency fields 97. The name of the higher level element willbe followed by the element type associated with the higher levelelement, found in element type field 91 of element group 90. The nextentry in dependency fields 97 will be the name of the lower levelelement, found in name field 92, followed by the element type, found inelement type field 91. Thus, as illustrated, the first record ofdependency group 95 specifies a dependency relationship between “Subsys5” and “File 5.” In a particular embodiment, this dependency existsbecause “Subsys 5” uses “File 5” to perform its functions.

[0034] A second way to associate two elements is enabled by using thekeyword “DEPENDENCY” in dependency type field 96. In this case,dependency fields 98 contain the name of the organization function, thename of the application, the name of the subsystem, and/or the name ofthe database in the dependency chain. Inserting the names of theelements in the dependency chain in dependency fields 98 specifies thedependency. As an example, the second record of dependency group 95shows an alternative way to create a dependency relationship between“File 5” and “Subsys 5.” Note, in other embodiments, dependency group 95could use only one of the ways described, or a different way, to specifyassociated elements.

[0035] Although data file 48 is tab-delimited, data file 48 could bedelimited by a comma, space, semi-colon, colon, or other suitablecharacter. In addition, the format illustrated in example data file 48is not rigid but merely illustrative. The records could be arranged indifferent orders or collated in different groups. Moreover, theinformation in each record could be modified. Thus, system 10 generallycontemplates any organization or structure of data file 48 to specifyone or more organizational elements, one or more information technologyelements, and their relationships.

[0036]FIG. 3A illustrates interactive user interface 60 that presentshierarchical list 62 of the information technology elements and theorganizational elements. In this illustration, interactive userinterface 60 is a GUI. Interactive user interface 60 includes a section61 and a section 71.

[0037] Section 61 presents hierarchical list 62, which is illustrated asa tree diagram. Each level in hierarchical list 62 corresponds to one ofthe element types of the organization—organization, organizationfunction, application, subsystem, or database and, hence, is a levelused to represent the information technology infrastructure. To assistin presenting this representation of the information technologyinformation infrastructure, hierarchical list 62 can expand and contractat each information technology element and each organizational element.Also, if hierarchical list 62 is too large to fit within section 61, atoolbar 63 will allow scrolling through hierarchical list 62.

[0038] Interactive user interface 60, through interactive display module38, allows modification of the relationships between the informationtechnology elements and the organizational elements in hierarchical list62 presented by section 61. Also, an information technology element ororganizational element can be disconnected from hierarchical list 62when one of the elements is selected and a button 64 is activated. Note,disconnecting an element from hierarchical list 62 that has elementsconnected below it in the hierarchy will also disconnect the elementsbelow the disconnected element from hierarchical list 62.

[0039] Section 71 provides a listing 72 of all the informationtechnology elements and the organizational elements specified in datafile 48. Listing 72 presented by section 71 is grouped by element typeand arranged alphabetically in each group. Section 71 of interactiveuser interface 60 can present either all or some of the informationtechnology elements and the organizational elements based on a pull-downmenu 74. For example, pull-down menu 74 can specify whether to displayeither a group of information technology elements, based on elementtype, all of the information technology elements, or all of theinformation technology elements and the organizational elements, asillustrated. If section 71 does not have enough space to present all ofthe information technology elements and/or the organizational elements,a toolbar 73 will allow scrolling through the elements in section 71. Ina particular embodiment, the, properties of the information technologyelements and the organizational elements may be presented to the side ofeach element in section 71.

[0040] There are several ways to modify listing 72 presented by section71. Upon activation of a button 77, interactive user interface 60 willallow the deletion of one of the information technology elements or theorganizational elements from listing 72. In addition, interactive userinterface 60 allows modification of the properties of the informationtechnology elements and the organizational elements already presented bysection 71 upon activation of a button 78. The properties available foran information technology element or an organizational element aredetermined by the labels for that element type in properties group 85 indata file 48, as will be discussed with respect to FIG. 3B. Thus, forthe element type “APPLICATION” named “PAYROLL,” interactive userinterface 60 will allow modification of the number of users or theplatform used upon activation of button 78. Upon activation of a button76, interactive user interface 60 will allow the addition of a newinformation technology element or a new organizational element tosection 71.

[0041]FIG. 3B illustrates an entry screen 100 for adding an informationtechnology element or an organizational element to listing 72 presentedby section 71 of interactive user interface 60. Note, entry screen 100is itself an interactive user interface. Entry screen 100 appears whencomputer program 42 detects activation of button 76. A pull-down menu102 dictates the element type to be added to listing 72. Upon selectionof an element type in pull-down menu 102, computer program 42 displays abox 104 in which to input the name of the new element, which correspondsto name field 92 of data file 48, and boxes 106 in which to input theproperties of the element. Note, label fields 87 for the element typespecified in pull-down menu 102 determine the number of and labels forboxes 106. Computer program 42 allows departure from entry screen 100when at least an element type and a name have been specified inpull-down menu 102 and box 104, respectively, and a button 108 isactivated or when a button 109 is activated, whereby no element will beadded to listing 72.

[0042] Returning to FIG. 3A, system 10 will also allow insertion of aninformation technology element or an organizational element presented byinteractive user interface 60 in section 71 into hierarchical list 62presented by interactive user interface 60 in section 61. This may beaccomplished, for example, using a drag and drop technique with apointing device, through keyboard commands, or through any other type ofcommand input technique. In a particular embodiment, if the insertedelement is now beneath an element in hierarchical list 62 that hasmultiple occurrences in hierarchical list 62, computer program 42 willcopy the inserted element to each occurrence of the higher level elementin hierarchical list 62.

[0043] In certain embodiments, interactive display module 38 will allowmodifications to interactive user interface 60 according to click, drag,and drop techniques. For example, when computer program 42 detects adouble click on one of the information technology elements or theorganizational elements in hierarchical list 62, computer program 42will contract or expand hierarchical list 62 at that element. Also, whencomputer program 42 detects highlighting of and a click upon one of theinformation technology elements presented by section 71 of interactiveuser interface 60, computer program 42 will copy the highlightedinformation technology element, illustrated by an icon 75, and show themovement of the copy in response to the movement of an input pointingdevice, such as a mouse. When computer program 42 detects that icon 75is over one of the information technology elements or organizationalelements in hierarchical list 62, computer program 42 will highlight theinformation technology element or organizational element in hierarchicallist 62 if the connection is proper. The connection is complete whencomputer program 42 detects an unclick signal from the input device.Moreover, computer program 42 will allow the use of a similar techniqueto move information technology elements and organizational elementsalready presented by section 61 within hierarchical list 62. Inaddition, if computer program 42 detects a right click on one of theelements, it will present a menu of edit commands, such as for viewingthe properties of the element.

[0044] In embodiments where dependencies between information technologyelements are specified, if an information technology element insertedinto hierarchical list 62 is dependent on any other informationtechnology element, the other information technology element willautomatically be connected to the inserted element in hierarchical list62.

[0045] Interactive display module 38 provides shortcuts in a toolbar 66for many of the previously mentioned operations, such as disconnectingelements in hierarchical list 62, deleting elements in listing 72, andviewing the properties of the elements. Buttons 67 and 68 allow forwardand backward searches through hierarchical list 62 presented by section61 to find multiple occurrences of an element. Interactive displaymodule 38 will perform such a search when it detects selection of anelement in hierarchical list 62 or in listing 72 and activation ofbutton 67 or button 68. Interactive display module 38 will then find theprevious or the next occurrence of that element in hierarchical list 62,respectively. It may also list (in a separate view) all dependencies forthe selected element.

[0046] Once hierarchical list 62 in interactive user interface 60accurately represents relationships between the information technologyelements and the organizational elements of the organization, computerprogram 42 saves the data presented by interactive user interface 60 indata file 48, like the one shown in FIG. 2. Then, computer program 42can generate hierarchical graph 54.

[0047]FIG. 4 illustrates hierarchical graph 54 of the informationtechnology infrastructure of the organization. As illustrated,hierarchical graph 54 uses a five-level hierarchical order to representthe information technology infrastructure of the organization,corresponding to the five levels specified in data file 48 in FIG. 2. Afirst level 110 and a second level 120 correspond to the organizationalelements of the organization—organization and organizational function,respectively. A third level 130, a fourth level 140, and a fifth level150 correspond to the information technology elements of theorganization—application, subsystem, and database, respectively.

[0048] In general, hierarchical graph 54 corresponds with hierarchicallist 62 in interactive user interface 60. However, hierarchical graph 54shows each information technology element and organizational element inthe information technology infrastructure, whether visible in section 61of interactive user interface 60 or not. Note, the names of theinformation technology elements and of the organizational elements inhierarchical graph 54 correspond with the names used in hierarchicallist 62.

[0049] Output module 40 generates hierarchical graph 54 in memorylocation 44. Output module 40 can then display hierarchical graph 54 ondisplay device 20 or cooperate with output device 50 to generate hardcopy output 52, which presents hierarchical graph 54.

[0050] In certain embodiments, each occurrence of an informationtechnology element that has multiple occurrences in hierarchical graph54 has a unique label. In addition, each occurrence includescross-references to the other occurrences of the information technologyelement in hierarchical graph 54. For example, in fifth level 150,database “File 5” is shown to occur four times in the informationtechnology infrastructure of the organization. Each occurrence of “File5” is identified by a label 152 at the upper left hand corner, whichspecifies the location of the occurrence in hierarchical graph 54 in atwo-dimensional grid. In the example, each level of the informationtechnology infrastructure corresponds to a letter and each element onthat level corresponds to a number. Each occurrence of “File 5” also hascross-references 154 at the bottom to the other occurrences of “File 5.”By providing cross-references 154 between information technologyelements that have multiple occurrences in the information technologyinfrastructure of the organization, high dependency sectors of theinformation technology infrastructure are readily discernible throughoutthe information technology infrastructure. The identification of thesehigh dependency sectors assists in determining where to focus duringcompliance testing, upgrades and enhancements, and general flow testing.Note, in other embodiments, every occurrence of every element inhierarchical graph 54 has a unique label. Also in other embodiments,label 152 may locate the elements in hierarchical graph 54 by othermanners than a two-dimensional grid.

[0051] In a particular embodiment, output module 40 displayshierarchical graph 54 on display device 20 in a graphics program thatallows the specification of the spacing, labeling, and other displayoptions. In addition, each element type may be given a different icon,as illustrated in FIG. 4. System 10 may then generate hard copy output52 that presents modified hierarchical graph 54.

[0052]FIG. 5 shows a flowchart 200 of a method for representing theinformation technology infrastructure of an organization. At step 204,computer program 42 displays a series of options. If computer program 42detects a termination request at step 208, computer program 42terminates. However, if computer program 42 does not detect atermination request at step 208, computer program 42 determines whetherthere is a request for a new data file at step 212. If there is arequest for a new data file at step 212, computer program 42 obtains newdata at step 216, using data collection module 32, data importationmodule 34, and/or data entry module 36. Then, at step 220, computerprogram 42 stores this data as data file 48 in database 46. Once step220 is complete, computer program 42 proceeds to step 232. Returning tostep 212, if there is no request for a new data file, computer program42 determines whether there is a request to access an existing data file48 in database 46 at step 224. If there is no request to access anexisting data file 48 at step 224, computer program 42 proceeds to step204 to re-display options to the user. If, however, there is a requestto access an existing data file 48 at step 224, computer program 42accesses requested data file 48 in database 46 at step 228 and proceedsto step 232.

[0053] If computer program 42 detects a request for interactive userinterface 60 at step 232, computer program 42 generates hierarchicallist 62 of the information technology elements and the organizationalelements of the organization, generates interactive user interface 60that presents hierarchical list 62, and displays interactive userinterface 60 at step 236. If computer program 42 then detects a requestfor a modification to hierarchical list 62 at step 240, such as addingelements, deleting elements, or modifying their properties and/orrelationships, computer program 42 performs this modification at step242. Computer program 42 will then re-generate and re-displayhierarchical list 62 of the modified relationship between theinformation technology elements and the organizational elements at step236. This may continue while the user performs modifications tohierarchical list 62. If there is no request for a modification at step240, computer program 42 determines whether there is a request forclosing interactive user interface 60 at step 244. If there is norequest for closing interactive user interface 60 at step 244, computerprogram 42 returns to step 240. Once there is a request for closinginteractive user interface 60 at step 244, computer program 42 updatesaccessed data file 48 at step 246 and determines whether there is arequest for hierarchical graph 54 at step 248. Step 248 will also occurif there is no request for interactive user interface 60 at step 232.

[0054] At step 248, computer program 42 determines whether there is arequest for hierarchical graph 54. If there is no request forhierarchical graph 54 at step 248, computer program 42 closes accesseddata file 48 at step 250 and returns to step 204. If, however, there isa request for hierarchical graph 54 at step 248, computer program 42generates hierarchical graph 54 of the information technologyinfrastructure of the organization at step 254. At step 258, computerprogram 42 displays hierarchical graph 54 on display device 20. Next,computer program 42 determines whether there is a request for hard copyoutput 52 that presents hierarchical graph 54 at step 262. If there isno such request, computer program 42 proceeds to step 250. However, ifthere is such a request, computer program 42 and output device 50cooperate to generate hard copy output 52, which presents hierarchicalgraph 54, at step 266. After step 266, computer program 42 closesaccessed data file 48 at step 250 and returns to step 204.

[0055] Although the information technology infrastructure of theorganization has been illustrated as having five element types, eachelement type representing a different level of the infrastructure,system 10 can readily accommodate any number and combination of elementtypes to represent the information technology infrastructure. Forexample, a new element type could be inserted under the entry type“Application” to specify subprograms of the application, thus creatingsix levels in the infrastructure. Therefore, system 10 contemplates anynumber of levels for representing the information technologyinfrastructure of an organization.

[0056] Although the present invention has been described with severalembodiments, a myriad of changes, variations, alterations,transformations, and modifications may be suggested to one skilled inthe art, and it is intended that the present invention encompass suchchanges, variations, alterations, transformations, and modifications asfall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. Information technology infrastructure managementsoftware, embodied in a computer-readable medium and operable, whenexecuted, to: generate a hierarchical representation of informationtechnology elements categorized according to one or more organizationalelements of a business entity with which each information technologyelement is associated; wherein the hierarchical representationrepresents the information technology infrastructure of the businessentity.
 2. The software of claim 1, wherein the organizational elementscomprise departments of the business entity.
 3. The software of claim 1,further operable to generate an interactive user interface that presentsthe hierarchical representation to a user, wherein the hierarchicalrepresentation comprises a hierarchical list.
 4. The software of claim3, further operable to: receive user input via the interactive userinterface relating to modifications of the relationships between theinformation technology elements and the organizational elements in thehierarchical list; and modify the relationships between the informationtechnology elements and the organizational elements in the hierarchicallist based on the user input.
 5. The software of claim 3, furtheroperable to: receive user input via the interactive user interfacerelating to a search of the hierarchical list for multiple occurrencesof an information technology element; and search the hierarchical listfor multiple occurrences of an information technology element.
 6. Thesoftware of claim 3, further operable to: generate a listing of at leastsome of the information technology elements for presentation by theinteractive user interface in a first section; generate the firstsection of the interactive user interface that presents the listing;generate a copy of one of the information technology elements in thelisting presented by the interactive user interface in the firstsection; and insert the copy in the hierarchical list presented by theinteractive user interface in a second section.
 7. The software of claim3, wherein the interactive user interface is a graphical user interface.8. The software of claim 1, further operable to: maintain a dependencyrelationship between a first information technology element and a secondinformation technology element; and connect the second informationtechnology element to each occurrence of the first informationtechnology element.
 9. The software of claim 1, wherein the informationtechnology elements comprise applications and databases.
 10. Thesoftware of claim 1, wherein the hierarchical representation comprises ahierarchical graph.
 11. A system for representing the informationtechnology infrastructure of a business entity, comprising: a memoryoperable to store data representing information technology elements ofthe business entity, organizational elements of the business entity withwhich each information technology element is associated, andrelationships between the information technology elements and theorganizational elements; a processor coupled to the memory and operableto: access the data in the memory; and generate a hierarchicalrepresentation of the information technology elements categorizedaccording to one or more organizational elements of the business entitywith which each information technology element is associated; and adisplay device coupled to the processor, the display device operable todisplay the hierarchical representation, wherein the hierarchicalrepresentation represents the information technology infrastructure ofthe business entity.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein theorganizational elements comprise departments of a business entity. 13.The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further operable togenerate an interactive user interface that presents the hierarchicalrepresentation to the user, wherein the hierarchical representationcomprises a hierarchical list.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein thedisplay device is operable to display the interactive user interfacethat presents the hierarchical list to a user.
 15. The system of claim13, wherein the interactive user interface is a graphical userinterface.
 16. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is furtheroperable to: receive user input via the interactive user interfacerelating to modifications of the relationships between the informationtechnology elements and the organizational elements in the hierarchicallist; and modify the relationships between the information technologyelements and the organizational elements in the hierarchical list basedon the user input.
 17. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor isfurther operable to: receive user input via the interactive userinterface relating to a search of the hierarchical list for multipleoccurrences of an information technology element; and search thehierarchical list for multiple occurrences of an information technologyelement.
 18. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is furtheroperable to: generate a listing of at least some of the informationtechnology elements for presentation by the interactive user interfacein a first section; generate the first section of the interactive userinterface that presents the listing; generate a copy of one of theinformation technology elements in the listing presented by theinteractive user interface in the first section; insert the copy in thehierarchical list presented by the interactive user interface in asecond section; and generate a new hierarchical list of the informationtechnology elements and the organizational elements with which eachinformation technology element is associated for presentation by theinteractive user interface in the second section.
 19. The system ofclaim 11, wherein the information technology elements compriseapplications and databases.
 20. The system of claim 11, wherein thehierarchical representation comprises a hierarchical graph.
 21. Thesystem of claim 20, further comprising an output device coupled to theprocessor, the output device operable to generate a hard copy outputthat presents the hierarchical graph.
 22. The system of claim 11,wherein: the memory is further operable to store a dependencyrelationship between a first information technology element and a secondinformation technology element; and the processor is further operable toconnect the second information technology element to each occurrence ofthe first information technology element.
 23. A method performed on acomputer for representing the information technology infrastructure of abusiness entity, comprising: storing data representing informationtechnology elements of the business entity, organizational elements ofthe business entity with which each information technology element isassociated, and relationships between the information technologyelements and the organizational elements; accessing the data in amemory; generating a hierarchical representation of the informationtechnology elements categorized according to one or more organizationalelements of the business entity with which each informational technologyelement is associated; and displaying the hierarchical representation ona display device; wherein the hierarchical representations representsthe information technology infrastructure of the business entity. 24.The method of claim 23, wherein the organizational elements comprisedepartments of a business entity.
 25. The method of claim 23, whereingenerating the hierarchical representation comprises generating aninteractive user interface that presents a hierarchical list.
 26. Themethod of claim 25, wherein the interactive user interface is agraphical user interface.
 27. The method of claim 23, wherein displayingthe hierarchical representation comprises displaying a hierarchical listto a user.
 28. The method of claim 27, further comprising: receivinguser input via the interactive user interface relating to modificationsof the relationships between the information technology elements and theorganizational elements in the hierarchical list; and modifying therelationships between the information technology elements and theorganizational elements in the hierarchical list based on the userinput.
 29. The method of claim 27, further comprising: receiving userinput via the interactive user interface relating to a search of thehierarchical list for multiple occurrences of one of the informationaltechnology elements; and searching the hierarchical list for multipleoccurrences of one of the information technology elements.
 30. Themethod of claim 27, further comprising: generating a listing of at leastsome of the information technology elements for presentation by theinteractive user interface in a first section; displaying the firstsection of the interactive user interface that presents the listing onthe display device; generating a copy of one of the informationtechnology elements in the listing presented by the interactive userinterface in the first section; and inserting the copy in thehierarchical list presented by the interactive user interface in asecond section.
 31. The method of claim 23, wherein the informationtechnology elements comprise applications and databases.
 32. The methodof claim 23, wherein generating a hierarchical representation comprisesgenerating a hierarchical graph.
 33. The method of claim 23, furthercomprising: maintaining a dependency relationship between a firstinformation technology element and a second information technologyelement; and connecting the second information technology element toeach occurrence of the first information technology element.